We investigate how forests and peatlands function and how human activity affects them. Research topics include forest structure, species inhabiting forests, the cycle of carbon and other substances, plant–soil interaction, and the recovery capacity of ecosystems. Our goal is to understand how forests respond to climate change, disruptions and forest management practices, and how these processes can be managed sustainably, relying on advanced measuring and analytics systems.
The research encompasses a wide range of topics from the molecular level to landscapes. It extends from the genetic variation of trees and metabolic activity in peatlands to modelling the structure and functioning of forests. The properties and biogeochemical processes of forest soils also play a key role: soil is the foundation of forest growth and an important reservoir of carbon and nutrients. Research in geoinformatics and remote sensing supports sustainable forest use and wood procurement logistics.
Our research produces knowledge that supports sustainable forest use, mitigates climate change and safeguards biodiversity. It helps develop solutions for carbon fixation, adaptation, inventory and cost-efficient logging. The research combines basic ecological research and applied methods, supporting decision-making and the sustainable management of natural resources as well as industrial wood procurement.
Research is conducted in the field, by modelling and in the laboratory, locally and across international cooperation networks. While boreal forests in Finland and elsewhere in northern Europe constitute a central research area, work is also carried out in tropical forests and various wetland ecosystems.
Field studies are supplemented by geoinformation and satellite observations. Methods in genomics and molecular biology help investigate the adaptation and evolution of trees, while modelling and remote sensing support decision-making in forest management and conservation.